Safety means for railroad switch stands



P 1942.v c.- ISTUBBLEFIELD v 2,294,488

SAFETY MEANS FOR RAILROAD SWITCH STANDS Filed A ril 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 S J E u) C J I 1 ll II:

Inventor QA/PEIvcE 5 TUBBLEF/ELD A Hume ULJUI-ll-ll-ll-IUUI-IU Sept. 1, 1942.

IIEI

c. STUBBLEFIELD 2,294,488

SAFETY MEANS FOR RAILROAD SWITCH STANDS Filed April 21, 1941 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 Inventor CLARENCE STUBBLEF/ELD.

Sept. 1', 1942. i c. STUBBLEFIELD I 2,294,488

SAFETY MEANS FOR RAILROAD SWITCH STANDS' Filed April 21, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 CLARENCE 'STUBBLEF/ELD ,Atlmwe p 1942. c. STUBBLEFIEILD 2,294,488

SAFETY MEANS FOR RAILROAD SWITCH STANDS Filed April 21, 1941 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Q "a v .l M

(Z A RENCE 571/55; EF/EL p.

Attorney Patented Sept. 1, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SAFETY MEANS FOR RAILROAD SWITCH STANDS 3 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in railroad switch stands and more particularly to safety means and signal means therefor.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a look for railroad switch stands which is associated with a switch and remotely located track signal to the end that should the stand be tampered with to the extent that the switch is opened, even partly, the remote signal will be energized. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic view showing the electrical connections between the electrical elements involved.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing a railroad with the switch stand and signal mount-ed adjacent thereto.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the switch stand.

Figure 5 is a horizontal enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the signal unit.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view through the switch unit taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line Ill-III of Figure 8.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts it can be seen that numeral "5 generally refers to the improved switch stand located adjacent a railroad switch 6, while numeral 1 generally refers to the remote signal controlled by the improved switch stand 5.

The switch stand consists of a box 8 in which is located suitable mechanism of a conventional nature for actuating the switch 6 through the rotation of a shaft '9.

Uprights I9, converging inwardly, serve to support a platform II substantially above the box 8 and upon this platform I I is horizontally movable a segmental-shaped box I2 having a hinged lid I3 and suitable fastening means I4 therefor.

The shaft 9 extends upwardly well above the platform I I and is equipped with a target or signal element I5.

An upstanding stop flange I6 is provided on the edge portion of the platform I I and a second stop flange I1 is provided at a diametrically opposite point. Adjacent the flange II, the platform II is formed with a slot I8 in which a handle I9 is operative. Ninety degrees removed from the slot 28 is a second slot 29 in which the handle I9 is seatable when the box I2 has been rotated ninety degrees.

Upon the bottom of thebox I2 is a shed 2I in which a block 22 is slidably disposed. The block 22 has a shank 23 extending therefrom and through an apertured boss 24 in the side wall of the segmental box I2. A knob 25 is provided at the outer end of the shank 23. As is clearly shown in Figure '7, a coiled compression spring 26 is interposed between a bracket 21 on the arcuate wall of the segmental box I2 and the block 22, serving to urge the block to a position in the path of the inner end a of thevhandle I9, it being observed that the handle I9 is pivotally mounted between one side wall of the segmental box I2 and an ear 21 rising from the bottom of the box, the end portion (1 operating through aslot 28 in the bottom and one end of the arouate wall of the segmental box I2.

Journaled through a bearing 28' on the shed 2i is a shaft 29 having 3, depending finger 39, which is operative through a slot in the top portion of the shed 2| to act as a stop against movement of the block 22 to a position freeing the handle I9, unless the shaft 29 has been rotated.

Numeral 3| denotes a key for engagement with the adjacent end of the shaft 29, which when properly fittedwith the shaft 29,permits rotation of the shaft to remove the finger 30 from abutting relation with the slide block 22, to the end that the knob 25 can be grasped and pulled to remove the block 22 from obstructive position with respect to the end portion a of'the handle I9. Obviously, when the block 22 has been moved to the left in Figure '7, the handle I9 is free so that it can be moved to the horizontal dottedline position shown in Figure 6. Thus the handle I9 is freed from the platform ll so that the shaft 9 and segmental box I2 can be rotated to abut the stop flange I6 where the handle is dropped to seat in the slot 20.

Brackets 32 extend from one side wall of the segmental box I2 and serve to support a stationary block 33of insulation and a swingable block 34 of insulation. The block 33 carries a contact 35, while a contact 36 is carried by the block 34 in opposed relation to the contact 35. The block 34 has a short tail portion 31 depending and between this and the opposed side wall of the segmental box |2 is a compression spring 38 serving to hold the contact 36 normally spaced from the contact 35. A lug 39 rises from the aforementioned shaft 29 and a spring 49 connects this lug 39 with an arm 4| extending from the contact block 34, to the end that when the shaft 29 is rotated to free the block 22 by the action of the key 3|, the contact 36 will be brought against the contact 35, so that current will flow from the battery 42 (see Figure 1) along the rail section 43 to a conductor 44 to the contact 36 and the contact 35 to a conductor 45 and from there to the opposed rail section 46, the current then passes by way of a conductor 41 to a motor 48 located in the remote signal unit I and to a signal lamp 49 before returning to the battery 42. Deenergization of the unit I takes place even before the box I 2 is rotated so that if there is anything wrong with the switch 6 and however partly open or split it may be, the signal unit 1 will be energized to warn trainmen.

A contact is carried by the segmental box I2 and protrudes downwardly throgh a slot 5| in the bottom of the box l2. On the platform I is a contact 5| againstwhich the contact 50 will engage when the box has been brought to abutting position against the stop flange l6. Due now to the fact that the contacts 56 and 5| are engaged, the key 3| can be removed, leaving the block 22 in an obstructing position with respect to the arm l9 and, of course, as the key 3| and shaft 29 are rotated, the lug 39 will move to a position releasing the spring 40 to the end that the contacts 35 and 36 will separate. Current will now pass by way of the switch 56, 5| instead of 35, 36 (see Figure 1). To maintain the parts in locked position shown in Figure 1, the shaft 29 has a lug 52 between which and an ear 53 on one side wall of the box |2 a coiled tension spring 54 is interposed.

The remote signal means is of simple construction, consisting of a base box 55 from which rises a hollow post 56 having a hollow head 51 from which projects a shaft 58. Numeral 59 denotes a semaphore carried by the shaft 58 and this has a plate structure 69 provided with a green window 6| and a red window 62, one or the other of which is capable of being positioned in front of a bulls eye 63 in the front wall of the hollow head 51, the bulls eye 63 being located in front of the bulb 49 suitably mounted within the hollow head structure 5'|.

The shaft 58 has an arm 64 from which extends a cable 65. This cable 65 extends downwardly to a drum 66 driven by the motor 48.

While the foregoing specification sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. In a switch stand for operating a railroad switch and closing a remote signal circuit, a peripherally notched disc-like table, a segmental box operatively connected to the switch and rotatable on said table about the center thereof into different set positions to open and close the switch, a switch lever on said box for rotating invention, what is the same and swingable thereon into and out of said notches to establish the set positions of the box, manipulative means in said box normally blocking the swinging of said lever out of either notch and including an operating shank extending out of the box, a lock in said box for retaining said means in normal blocking position and key operated to unlock the same, a pair of normally open contacts adapted to close said circuit and operative to closing position under unlocking of said lock, and a pair of contacts on said table and box, respectively, open in one set position of the box and adapted to be engaged to close said circuit under rotation of said box to another set position to thereby maintain said circuit closed when the lock is locked and. the first-mentioned pair of contacts thereby opened.

2. In a switch stand for operating a railroad switch and closing a remote signal circuit, a peripherally notched disc-like table, a segmental box operatively connected to the switch and rotatable on said table about the center thereof into diiferent set positions to open and close the switch, a switch lever on said box for rotating the same and swingable thereon into and out of said notches to establish the set positions of the box, manipulative means in said box normally blocking the swinging of said lever out of either notch and including an operating shank extending out of the box, a lock in said box for retaining said means in normal blocking position and key operated to unlock the same, a pair of normally open contacts adapted to close said circuit and operative to closing position under unlocking of said box, and a pair of contacts on said table and box, respectively, open in one set position of the box and adapted to be engaged to close said ci'rcuit under rotation of said box to another set position to thereby maintain said circuit closed when the look is locked and the first-mentioned pair of contacts thereby opened, said means comprising a slide block spring tensioned toward normal position.

3. In a switch stand for operating a railroad switch and closing a remote signal circuit, a peripherally notched disc-like table, a segmental box operatively connected to the switch and rotatable on said table about the center thereof into different set positions to open and close the switch, a switch lever on said box for rotating the same and swingable thereon into and out of said notches to establish the set positions of the box, manipulative means in said box normally blocking the swinging of said lever out of either notch and including an operating shank extending out of the box, a lock in said box for retaining said means in normal blocking position and key operated to unlock the same, a pair of normally open contacts adapted to close said circuit and operative to closing position under unlocking of said lock, and a pair of contacts on said table and box, respectively, open in one set position of the box and adapted to be engaged to close said circuit under rotation of said box to another set position to thereby maintain said circuit closed when the lock is locked and the first-mentioned pair of contacts thereby opened, said means comprising a slide block spring tensioned toward normal position, said lock including a spring tensioned rotary shaft, and a finger on said shaft for obstructing movement of said block.

CLARENCE STUBBLEFIELD. 

